Athletic aid

ABSTRACT

A body restraining device is disclosed herein for use in athletics which includes a neck strap and a pair of thigh loop straps that are joined together by a resilient body trunk strap. Attachment fasteners are provided for detachably coupling the neck strap to the body trunk strap whereby the resiliency thereof places a yieldable constricting load forcibly urging the wearer&#39;&#39;s upper torso downwards. The straps may be composed of elastic material or the neck and thigh straps may be composed of fabric webbing while the body trunk strap may be a shock cord or the like.

United States Patent 1 Whaley, Jr.

[ ATHLETIC AID [75] Inventor: Robert C. Whaley, Jr., Pasadena,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: J. Thornton Posey, Pasadena Calif.

[22] Filed: July 23, 1971 21 Appl. No.:-165,044

[52] US. Cl 273/55 R, 2/310, 128/99 [51] Int. Cl A63!) 67/00 [58] Field of Search 273/55 R, 188 R,

273/188 A, 189 R, 189 A, 190 R, 190 A, 190 B, 190 C; 128/95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 105; 2/310, 311,326,327

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,050,257 1/1913 Trigg 2/310 X 2,986,396 5/1961 Abbott et al 273/55 C 1 June 12, 1973 659,685 10/1900 Miller 128/100 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown Attorney-Roger A. Marrs [57] ABSTRACT A body restraining device is disclosed herein for use in athletics which includes a neck strap and a pair of thigh loop straps that are joined together by a resilient body trunk strap. Attachment fasteners are provided for detachably coupling the neck strap to the body trunk strap whereby the resiliency thereof places a yieldable constricting load forcibly urging the wearers upper torso downwards. The straps may be composed of elastic material or the neck and thigh straps may be composed of fabric webbing while the body trunk strap may be a shock cord or the like.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ATHLETIC AID 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of athletic aids and accessories and more particularly to a novel athletic aid adapted to be worn across the front of the torso extending from the neck to the thighs so as to apply a yieldable constriction urging the wearer into a crouching position.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art When engaging in various sports such as football for example, it is important that a player on the line maintain a crouching position preparatory to the commencement of play. Of more significance is the players ability to hold this crouching stance during. the forward rush or charge by the player immediately after the ball has been snapped or placed in play. Such a crouching stance is not an ordinary or natural body position and this position must be learned by the player in order to be an effective player. Since the crouching stance, particularly when charging, is unnatural, training of the player is tedious and the skill or art of crouching low is often lost by the player who is not participating in regular practice and training exercises.

Therefore, under conventional training procedures, instruction to the players is achieved through observation by the coach and verbal comments to the player. The use of equipment and/or training aids are unknown for the purpose of controlling a player so as to assume a crouching position and especially which will leave the player uninhibited or unobstructed during subsequent action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the problems and difficulties encountered as noted above are obviated by the present invention which provides a yieldable strap device adapted to be worn by the player which exerts a constricting force to bend the player at his waist which is conducive to assuming a crouching position. The athletic device of the present invention includes a neck strap and thigh straps joined together by a resilient member which may take the form of elastic straps or a woven shock cord. The resiliency of the member is sufficient to provide a yieldable constriction so that the player may still stand erect but only against the pull of the resilient member.

Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel athletic aid adapted to yieldably urge a player into a low crouching position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel athletic aid to be worn by a player over his uniform and without interference with body extremities so that the head and shoulders are urged forward and downward.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a constricting strap device promoting a forward body bend for teaching the wearer to maintain a low crouching position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel athletic practice strap which promotes learning of a sustained low crouching position and yet such a strap as will allow for full extension when necessary.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel athletic device for teaching players to assume a crouching position which is simple, effective and unrestrictive for other body movements and positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the athletic aid of the present invention illustrated as being worn by a typical football player;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front perspective view of the athletic aid shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the athletic aid as taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the leg portion of the athletic aid illustrating one-piece construction; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention employing shock cords as a resilient body member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a typical football player is illustrated by the numeral 10 as wearing the conventional uniform for engagement in a sport such as football. In the playing of this game, it is highly advantageous for a player serving as a lineman to stay low in a crouching position preparatory to rushing or advancing across the line of scrimmage. The athletic aid of the present invention is worn over the uniform of the player 10 during practice so that the position of a low crouch will be promoted.

In general, the athletic aid of the present invention comprises a neck band or strap 11 which substantially encircles the back and sides of the players neck and attaches at its opposite ends to an elongated resilient member or strap 12 that passes across the front of the players torso. The end of the resilient strap or member 12 from its end connected to the neck strap 11 terminates in fixed securement with a pair of leg loops l3 and 14 that encircle the thighs of the players legs. As illustrated, player 10 is preparing to crouch and his head and shoulders are biased in a forward and downward position as pulled by the resilient member 12. In other words, the resilient member 12 constricts between the leg loops and the neck loop so that the player is urged to bend about his waist in a forward direction. However, it is to be understood that the constriction of the band or resilient strap 12 may be readily overcome and is yieldable when the player desires to stand upright. In this latter event, the player will definitely notice the tendency of the constricting strap or member 12 to pull the upper part of his body forward and down. This sensation is a constant reminder to him that he should remain in a low crouch during certain maneuvers of play.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 2, the athletic aid of the present invention is illustrated in the general direction of arrow 15 and it can be seen that the neck strap or band 11 terminates in a snap fastener relationship with one end of the resilient strap or member 12. The

fasteners are illustrated by numeral 16 and may take the form of any suitable snap or press-lock fasteners. I-IOwever, it is to be understood that the neck band or strap may be sewn to the end of resilient member 12 if desired. The provision of the snap fasteners readily permits the player to adjust for the tension or resiliency of the strap 12. In other words, three rows of fasteners are shown. When the closures of the fasteners are joined together as illustrated along the lower row of fasteners, minimum resiliency is encountered by the strap 12. However, should the fasteners on the second or third rows be employed, a greater pull or constriction will be placed on the strap 12 and this will be noticeable by the player.

The strap 12 is resilient and may be in the form of a broad flat band of elastic fabric material. The resilient strap or member 12 is intended to cross the front of the torso of the wearer somewhere from the chest to an area adjacent the abdomen.

The opposite end of the resilient strap 12 from its end connected to the neck band or strap 11 is suitably secured to the leg loops 13 and 14, such as by sewing or other fastening procedures. Preferably, the leg loops are formed from a single length of fabric webbing, such as shown in FIG. 4, wherein the opposite ends of the webbing length are doubled back upon themselves and are securely fastened to the midsection of the band by the same fastening or securement means employed to connect with the end of resilient strap 12. Numeral 17 indicates the midsection attachment area for the length of webbing while numerals 18 and 20 indicate the terminating ends of the strap which are doubled or folded back upon themselves to form the loops 13 and 14. The material of the length of webbing may be of elastic; however, the material may be of fabric webbing without elastic characteristics, if desired.

In forming the leg loops and in attaching to the resilient strap 12, it is noted that the end portions 18 and 20 will be disposed between the players legs substantially at the crotch area and that portions 21 and 22 of the leg loops will be disposed adjacent the lower portion of the buttocks. Webbing portions 23 and 24 will cross the front of the player.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the length of resilient member 12 comprises a double thickness of elastic webbing material and that the opposite ends thereof are respectively secured to the neck band 11 and the leg loop 13. The connection areas between the resilient member and the neck and leg loops are reinforced by additional thicknesses of webbing material which may be either folded portions of the loops or resilient straps themselves or may take the form of additional squares or patches of webbing. In the instance of the neck band or strap 1 1, it can be seen that the extreme end of the strap is folded over upon itself so as to provide a double thickness for supporting the fasteners 16.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 5, another embodiment of the present invention is shown in the general direction of arrow 25 which comprises a neck band 26 having its opposite ends secured to a pair of shock cords 27 and 28, respectively. The attachment is by means of snap fasteners 30 and these fasteners may be adjusted as previously described to provide more or less tension on the constricting shock cords 27 and 28 when the aid is worn by the player. It is also to be understood that hook and pile fastening means may be employed such as that sold under the tradename of Velcro so that the necessity of registration of closure members for the fastener is avoided. The opposite ends of each of the shock cords 27 and 28 from their ends connected to the band 26 are coupled to a pair of separate loops 31 and 32 respectively. The athletic aid 25 is modified from the device shown in FIG. 2 by use of a pair of resilient members taking the form of shock cords 27 and 28 and by employing separate loops 31 and 32 as opposed to the loops 13 and 14 which are formed from a single length of fabric or webbing. Such a modification permits a wider separation of the resilient members across the chest of the player such that the ends of the shock cords will substantially diverge at the crotch area of the player for engagement with the loops 31 and 32.

In view of the foregoing, it can be readily seen that a simple and effective practice strap is provided which teaches players to stay in a low alert position. Strap 11 goes around the neck of the player while each leg is encircled by a leg loop 13 and 14, respectively. The resilient band or strap 12 exerts a constricting force between the shoulders and crotch of the player to cause him to bend forward and downward into the desired crouched position. The resilient strap is yieldable inasmuch as a slight stretch is provided in this middle connecting strap so as to allow for full extension when necessary, such as to permit the player to walk around between plays or to run and perform assigned tasks after the initiation of play when-the crouched position is no longer required.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An athletic aid to be worn by a player for drawing his head and shoulders forward and downward com-' prising:

a continuous, non-elastic neck band having opposite ends for substantially encircling the neck of the player;

a continuous, non-elastic band folded upon itself to form a pair of leg loops for encircling the thighs of the player;

a resilient member of wider width than said neck and leg bands joining said neck band to said loops whereby said resilient member extends across the chest and abdomen of the player yieldably pulling said neck band and said loops together drawing the player into a crouching position;

snap fasteners carried on the opposite ends of said neck band and on the upper end of said resilient member cooperatively and releasably joining said neck band to resilient member for adjusting the constricting tension thereof when worn by the player; and

said resilient member being fixedly joined at its lower end to said pair of leg loops.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the general run of said bands are substantially parallel and in line with the longitudinal length of said resilient member. 

1. An athletic aid to be worn by a player for drawing his head and shoulders forward and downward comprising: a continuous, non-elastic neck band having opposite ends for substantially encircling the neck of the player; a continuous, non-elastic band folded upon itself to form a pair of leg loops for encircling the thighs of the player; a resilient member of wider width than said neck and leg bands joining said neck band to said loops whereby said resilient member extends across the chest and abdomen of the player yieldably pulling said neck band and said loops together drawing the player into a crouching position; snap fasteners carried on the opposite ends of said neck band and on the upper end of said resilient member cooperatively and releasably joining said neck band to resilient member for adjusting the constricting tension thereof when worn by the player; and said resilient member being fixedly joined at its lower end to said pair of leg loops.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein: the general run of said bands are substantially parallel and in line with the longitudinal length of said resilient member. 